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(No Model.)

vG. W. LAWSON.

ELECTRIC BATH. No. 267,875. Patented May 16, 1882.

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' j U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ELECTRIC BATH.

srncrnron'rron forming part of-. Letters Patent No. 257,875, dated May 16, 188e,

Application filed January 24, 188 2 (No model.) i

To all whom it mag/concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. LAWSON, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, havcinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Baths; and

"I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatns for generating-and applying in a bath electricity and remedial vapors for hygienic purposes, f a

It consists in the construction of a bath chamber wherein the resultant electric current obtained by the -application of cold water to one end of eachof theelements in a thermoelectric pile whose opposite ends are simultaneously heated by a suitable calorifiedevice' is conducted to the person of the bather,while the heat employed in exciting the battery is utilized. in elevating the temperature of the bath and in the generation of vapors for use therein. a

Figure l is a central vertical section of my improved thermoelectric and vapor bath, and

Fig. 2 ahorizontal section throngh the thermoelectric generator detached and drawn upon an enlarged scale. 7 A

A A are the sides of a chamber adapted to constitute the bathing-room. It is made of such a height as that a person standing therein shall be wholly concealed thereby. It is made water and steam tight, and its bottom, sloping toward a. drain-pipe, B, is fitted with a slotted or perforated floor, C. An adjustable stool 01' seat, D; is fitted upon one side thereof and a foot-rest, E,'npon the opposite side within easy reach of a person sitting upon the seat D. This foot-rest consists of a hollow copper vessel,which it is desired shall be filled with hot water, when in use, to maintain a constant heat at the feetof the bather. A

bather when leaning back against it, andwhich, by a wire connecting it with the battery, is made-to constitute one of itsv poles or elements, the copper foot-rest beingin like manner constituted the opposite pole'or element of the same battery. w

A transverse partition, G, within thechamher A A serves to completely close and shut in the chamber from above. This partition is placed ataboutthe level of the neck of a person sitting'upon the seat D. The partition extends from the side back of the seat hori- 'zontally to a point over the latter, and slopes thence at an angle downward toward thefront ot' the bath. An aperture, H, is cutinthe partitionimmediately over the stool D, of a size adapted .to closely encircle the neck of a pet son, and the partition is divided in alinepass ing centrally through the aperture H, parallel to the rear side of the chamber, andagain in lines at 1) and a, parallel to the first. The secthrown open after theibather isinclosed in the bath to admit of a free circulation of air above his head as it projects through the opening at H, The windows may be glazed with ground or stained glass and fitted'with shadesiii. Q A, side door att'ords' entrance. to the bath.

A shower, K, and a flexible pipe and nozzle,

L, supplied with hot and cold water and gorerned by cocks g g g g', placed within easy'reach of the bather, furnish the conveniences of a shower and douche bath.

In front of the bathing-apartment thus constructed I place my thermoelectric and vapor generating apparatus. The improved thermoelectric battery consists of a series of alternate copper and zinc strips M M' 'arranged side by side, parallel to each other, one end of each being bent to dip into a vessel, P, of running water, leaving its opposite longerend to project therefrom horizontally at aright angle therewith (see--Fig. 1) over a series of gasburners, N N, or otherQeqnivale-nt caforificde;

- the heat of the burners at .oue end and the coolness of the water at the other. The bat-- tery M M P N is inclosed within a suitable case, RR, closed by.a hinged lid, R. The vessel P is constantly supplied with a stream of cold running water through suitable supply and discharge pipes, P P", Fig. 2. Free communication is established bet-ween the interior of the battery-case and the bottom of the bath-chamber A by means of an extended opening, S, The poles of the battery are connccted by wires, the one with the zinc plate forming the back of the seat 1) and the other with the copper foot-rest E, or vice versa, it de- A copper tank, T, is fitted upon the inner, under side of the lid or coverof the batterychamber R, and is provided with an opening,

- t,=closed by a suitable stopper, through whiclr the tank may be filled with water. This stop-. per is fitted upon its inner side with a perfo- 1 rated cup for holding the drugs with which it may be desired to charge the water for medicatiu g purposes.

A pipe, T, fitted withinthe bath-chamber A and terminating in a suitable noz'zle beneath thebathers seat, is coupled by a flexible connecting-pipe, T", with the top of the tank T, so that vapor generated in said tank may be discharged into the bottom of the bath-chamber. The pipe T is controlled by a valve,h,

- actuated by a pull, h, within reach of the bathe'rs hand when seated.

Air is admitted to the battery-chamber R, and through it to the bath-chamber A, by means of openings U U, closed by suitable doors. One or more draft-pipes, V, each governed by a damper, are placed in the rear of the bath-chamber, under the transverse parperature of the lower compartment. I y In the use of my improved apparatus the thermatbattery is brought into operation by causing a flow of water through the cooling- Vessel P and lighting the burners N N. r The difi'erence of temperature thus produced in opposite. ends of the connected positive and neg-.

ative strips M M generates a mild yetpoteut electric current, possessing peculiarly" beneficial hygienic properties when caused to circulate through the body. The bathcr, upon sitting down upon the seat D, put-ting his feet upon the foot-rest E and leaning back against the plate-F will close the circuit from the battery and the current will pass through his body andlimbs. If,now, the folding partition G be shut down encircling the neck of the bathcr and completely inclosing the lower compartment in which he is seated, the heat of the burners in the battery-chamber will rapidly elevate the temperature in said lower compartment until a gentle perspiration will be induced, facilitating the flow and healthful action of the electric current. It a sulphur or other form of medicated hot-air bath is required, the sulphur or other drug is placedin the battery-chamber, over its burners, so that the heat thereof will quickly produce the desired fumes, which, escaping thence, will pass into and fillthe lower compartment of the bath-. chamber. It a steam or vapor bath is wanted, the tank T is filled with water, or with any description of herbal infusion or medicinal'tinctthe feet from the rest E.

By means of the electrodes W W any desired special application of a galvanic current may be made by thebather during his bath. The temperature of the bath may be lowered by the bathcr at pleasure by means of cords which control the dampers U in the batterychamber. The douche and shower, hot, cold, or tempered,as he'may desire, are at his command at the close of his electric hot-air or Va porbath to complete the same.

The elements of the battery may consist of antimony and bismuth, or any of the alloys which have been found useful in the production of a. thermoelectric pile, instead of copper and zinc.

' It is evident that the various applications'of the bath may be mzfde and controlled from without by an attendant.

WhatIcla'im as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a bath-chambcr,A a separate communicating chamber R, burners N, placed therein, adapted to heat said chambers, an electro-thermal pile or battery, M M, adapted to be healed continuously on one side by said burners, and to be cooled on the other by a continuous current of water, and a back plate, F, and foot-rest E,constituting the elec too trodes of said battery, all substantially as and for the purpose hereiu set forth.

2. The combination, with an electro-thermal pile or battery, M M, a back plate F, and foot- 5 rest E, constituting its electrodes, and a bathchamber, A, inclosin g said electrodes, of a hotwater and vapor-generating tank, T, adapted to be heated by the calorific device of the battery, and communicating with the bath-chamber by a connecting-pipe, T, substantially as m andfor the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing'witnesses.

GEO. W. LAWSON. Witnesses J. F. ACKER,JI., DAVID'A. BURR'. 

